About the work

‘This is the second last lesser-spotted-tree-dragon. By her very name it is clear that she is an endangered species. She is looking for the last lesser spotted tree dragon! If she fails, will she become that very thing herself and – what would that mean?’

The creation of this piece is a reflection on survival and extinction in the guise of mythologies.
This work is referencing the classic medieval mythological dragon to evoke the comfort of myth while referencing the dread of species extinction. Although figurative in form, the spiral movement of the work addresses the three dimensionality of sculpture which is so often overlooked in public sculpture.
Built entirely of scrap metal salvaged from the waste bins of steel fabrication workshops, it weighs a half tonne and has been fully galvanised.

About the Artist

Fifi Smith is a visual artist living and working in Celbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

Originally she trained and worked as an architect. She has been a practicing artist since 1995. Her first solo show was in 1998. Her work has evolved through ceramics to bronze to steel, and then to mixed media installations. Her current work is in the form of experimental film and kinetic light installations.

As a multimedia artist, when she works in bronze, she frequently casts and patinating the work herself, never repeating an idea or making series of one piece. She has successfully complete large scale projects up to a value of €60,000.

Her work has been shown in Barcelona, Bucharest, Bejing, as well as Washington DC, and throughout Ireland.

Fifi Smith explores the shifting motivational balance between emotion and reason in human motivation. Specifically expressing in form the tension between mass behavior and individuality.